Kinesin KIFC1 actively transports bare double-stranded DNA

Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 May;41(9):4926-37. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt204. Epub 2013 Mar 29.

Abstract

During the past years, exogenous DNA molecules have been used in gene and molecular therapy. At present, it is not known how these DNA molecules reach the cell nucleus. We used an in cell single-molecule approach to observe the motion of exogenous short DNA molecules in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Our observations suggest an active transport of the DNA along the cytoskeleton filaments. We used an in vitro motility assay, in which the motion of single-DNA molecules along cytoskeleton filaments in cell extracts is monitored; we demonstrate that microtubule-associated motors are involved in this transport. Precipitation of DNA-bound proteins and mass spectrometry analyses reveal the preferential binding of the kinesin KIFC1 on DNA. Cell extract depletion of kinesin KIFC1 significantly decreases DNA motion, confirming the active implication of this molecular motor in the intracellular DNA transport.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • DNA / analysis
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Dyneins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / analysis
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • Microtubules / metabolism

Substances

  • KIFC1 protein, human
  • DNA
  • Dyneins
  • Kinesins